Kings Barton: concerns over Andover Road diversion continue

The controversial diversion, agreed approximately 10 years ago, is due when the 2,000-home estate reaches 600 houses. There are currently approximately 500 homes completed.

As well as the diversion, the current Andover Road would be closed to through traffic except for bicycles and possibly buses.

READ MORE: Plans emerging for the neighbourhood centre of huge new estate at Kings Barton

At a meeting of the Kings Barton Forum held on Tuesday, July 11, KBRA member Mike Slinn (pictured above, left) said: “We’ve written to Cllr Rob Humby (county council leader) essentially saying that we think the consultant’s report is unsatisfactory and inconsistent with local transport plan policies and if those policies were used for an assessment then we feel that assessment would show that the best solution is to have both Andover Road and Winchester Avenue open to traffic. That does not, in anyway impact the amount of traffic coming to the city centre.

“So, we’re hoping for a response from the county council to that.”

Picture showing the old Andover Road once the traffic is diverted through the new estate Mr Slinn also said that Kings Barton residents are concerned over the impact of the local plan and what it could mean for traffic near the estate, saying: “We’re concerned about the local plan and what it could mean for us, because Sir John Moore Barracks is now in the local plan as a 1,000 house site, and also, I think it’s about 850 additional carparking spaces for a park and ride, so that’s going to mean additional traffic.

“And we have suggested, as our planning consultant has advised, that this is a material change and requires a reappraisal to down grade the Andover Road, with any change to the approach being set out within the new local plan.

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“The plan is an opportunity to think again about the decision to close Andover Road to traffic and divert it through Winchester Avenue, which would be a social and environmental disaster for residents”.

The Kings Barton Forum had heard at a previous meeting on March 14 that residents have been unhappy with the plans for the diversion for some time, with 3,000 people previously signing a petition against the diversion.

As previously reported, the campaign to stop the diversion has received the support of Littleton and Harestock Parish Council.

City council leader Martin Tod last September criticised the idea of keeping Andover Road open as well as Winchester Avenue: "Having two main roads running in parallel would be an act of insanity in terms of urban planning and traffic planning. You can't have both, that makes no sense at all."

The next Kings Barton Forum is scheduled for October 12.